The Hellenic Open University (HOU) is a state university equivalent to all the others in Greece. This article highlights key moments in the 20-year history of the HOU, relevant expertise, lessons learned so far and challenges that threaten or inspire a quality culture of enhancement. Combining the theoretical principles of distance education with empirical research implemented in the HOU, the article illustrates its achievements and the innovations brought to Greek higher education that have had a great impact and affect both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in all Greek universities. The new complex and diverse role of the tutors, the liberation of the educational process from the constraints of time and space, the interaction between tutor-student-institution, the autonomous and independent route of self-directed learning and also the crucial role of the educational material in the learning process are some of the innovations, which define a new educational environment, unknown until recently in Greece. In this context, lifelong learning and adult education policies directly link wider social classes to educational processes. This educational mobilization of a wider social class that until recently was outside the educational process is also the great contribution of the HOU to educational reform in the country. HOU faces new challenges in the 21 st century and has to commit to continuous quality enhancement in order to serve adult students' needs.
The main aim of this chapter is to research characteristics and main issues of quality school distance education, issues of support for those involved, but also to develop a reflection on what this experience will leave behind. In the context of a case study, focus groups were conducted with students, teachers, school principals, even parents in two public primary schools in Athens. Thematic analysis of data by informants highlighted key thematic areas in a quality system such as inclusion, leadership, professional development, infrastructure and equipment, teaching and learning methodology, the legacy of the widespread use of distance education. The educational institution evolves in the context of developing a culture of quality and evaluation. Schools should reflect on their practices. All stakeholders in the school community should be empowered to shape each school's identity and character, aiming to continuous quality enhancement and development for all.
The interview was conducted in Athens on the 11th November 2013 during the 7th International Conference in Open and Distance Education.
Η ψηφιακή τεχνολογία επιφέρει μεταβολές και στον χώρο του βιβλίου με την εμφάνιση βιβλίων σε ψηφιακή μορφή. Η πολυμεσικότητα, πολυμορφικότητα και γενικότερα οι ολοένα αυξανόμενες δυνατότητες που προσφέρουν, μεταβάλλουν γοργά το τοπίο στην αγορά και διακίνηση του βιβλίου. Το άρθρο προσεγγίζει τα ισχυρά στοιχεία του έντυπου βιβλίου, την προστιθέμενη αξία του ψηφιακού βάσει των νέων λειτουργιών καθώς και τις κυρίαρχες πρακτικές και αναδυόμενες τάσεις των δυο μορφών με βιβλιογραφική ανασκόπηση στο πεδίο. Έμφαση δίνεται στην παιδαγωγική διάσταση έντυπου και ψηφιακού βιβλίου ενώ παρουσιάζονται εισαγωγικά τα νέα περιβάλλοντα ανάγνωσης. Οι προτιμήσεις των αναγνωστών σε συνδυασμό με τις μορφές και τα επιχειρηματικά πρότυπα που θα κυριαρχήσουν, θα καθορίσουν τη μορφή του βιβλίου τα επόμενα χρόνια.
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